King Willem-Alexander celebrates his birthday in Rotterdam on Thursday. That will cost about 4 million euros. This makes it the most expensive King’s Day ever. In Maastricht, where the king celebrated his birthday last year, the party cost less than half.
More than half of that 4 million euros, about 2.5 million, is paid by the municipality itself. The rest must come from sponsorship money and contributions from other governments.
According to a spokesman for the municipality of Rotterdam, prices are of course a lot higher due to inflation. But this edition is especially more expensive than other years because the king is celebrating his tenth anniversary as monarch this year.
“We want to do it big for all Rotterdammers and other people who come here to celebrate,” says the spokesperson. “We not only organize things on King’s Day itself, but also in the ten days before.” The party in Rotterdam already started with the King’s Day concert in Ahoy, more than a week ago.
In addition, it also costs more money to organize an event in a city as big as Rotterdam. The royal family’s walking route on King’s Day is always one kilometer long, but the municipality has organized activities throughout the city. “That means you have to secure all those places. That’s expensive.”
When asked whether the royal family should be more secured this year because of the threats to Princess Amalia, the spokesperson does not want to answer.
2023-04-26 12:47:00
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